There are many reasons why cats can get constipation, but the result is the same--a cat in pain. The longer it takes for the stool to pass, the harder they become, which makes the cat even more constipated. According to "Cat Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook" (Delbert G. Carlson, et al, 1999), constipation can also be the sign of colitis or feline urologic syndrome, so call a vet if these treatments do not work.
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Adult Cats
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Be sure that the cat is getting unrestricted access to water and feed a diet higher in fiber. "The Doctors Book of Home Remedies for Dogs and Cats" (Matthew Hofman, et al, 1996) recommends mixing a teaspoon of canned pumpkin or wheat bran into the cat's food if the cat still has a good appetite. If the cat is long-haired, be sure the hair around the anal region is trimmed, because that could block stool. If the cat is having hairball problems or hair is seen in the small stools that the cat is able to produce, give a hairball laxative such as Cat-Lax. Be sure the litter is regularly cleaned, because some cats have been known to refuse to use a dirty litter box, which can promote constipation.
Kittens
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Kittens under one month old cannot defecate or urinate by themselves. They need to be stimulated by their mother's tongue. If the kitten is an orphan or is being bottle-raised, it is important to gently rub the anal area with a cotton ball wet with warm water to simulate the mother's tongue. Do this after every feeding. If the kitten has not had a stool in 24 hours, Kitten Rescue.com recommends adding two drops of vegetable oil in the next bottle. A kitten can die from constipation in three days, so call a vet if the kitten still has not gone in 48 hours.
Senior Cats
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It is very common for cats over 7 years of age to get constipation. If the cat is a manx, take the cat to the vet because constipation can be a sign of a spinal problem that manx cats are prone to. Senior cats can also take the human laxative Metamucil. Add one teaspoon in with the cat's regular food. Feed high fiber, lower calorie cat foods to older cats because their metabolism is slower than kittens or younger cats.
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